Glavine walks away with 305 wins

Lefty used command to succeed for two decade

Tom Glavine, a future Hall of Famer and a cool-headed MLBPA executive board member who helped lead players through a host of difficult issues, will join the Braves front office and try a variety of roles within the organization.

Glavine, a two-time Cy Young Award winner who posted 305 wins in his career, will become a special assistant to team president John Schuerholz. He will also broadcast some of the club's games during 2010.

"I know that physically I wouldn't be able to go out there and do the things I want to do anymore. So I think, when that happens, it's a lot easier to walk away and focus on what you want to do next," the 43-year-old Glavine told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "So I'm excited about the opportunity to find out what I want to do next."

Glavine played for 22 seasons, including 17 with the Braves. He was an All-Star 10 times, led the NL in wins five times and was the MVP of the 1995 World Series.

Thomas announces his retirement: The Big Hurt, Frank Thomas has announced that he is retiring.

"Life goes on. I have a 15-month-old baby, and I've spent a lot of time with my kids during this last year and a half. I caught up with the time that I missed away from them. I'm really happy. I'm taking care of myself, and I feel good."

Thomas, 41, last played with Oakland in 2008. He is 18th on the all-time Major League home run list with 521. He also had 1,704 RBIs and batted .301 for his career. As part of his 16 seasons with the Chicago White Sox, he won the American League MVP Award in 1993 and 1994.

Farnsworth competing for rotation spot: In Kansas City, pitching coach Bob McClure says Kyle Farnsworth won't necessarily be relegated to a role in the bullpen in 2010.

"Kyle Farnsworth is competing for a job in the rotation," McClure told MLB.com. "We're going to lengthen him out and see how it goes," said McClure. "Because what he showed me last year was the ability to back off a little bit and not pitch with his hair on fire. And, to be a starter, you have to be able to just kind of go pitch by pitch."

"There is no more pressure on me, because that's where I expect to be," Wainwright told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It's where I've prepared to be my entire career. If you think of yourself as an elite pitcher, you have a chance to become an elite pitcher. If you don't, you won't be. I expect that of myself."

Orioles add Ohman to bullpen: In an effort to strengthen the left side of their bullpen, the Orioles have signed Will Ohman.

"I think it's always good to have experience in your bullpen," Orioles manager Dave Trembley told the Baltimore Sun. "This gives us another left-handed situational guy to look at. I wanted to have another lefty in the bullpen besides [Mark] Hendrickson. Now we have some options, and we'll go to Spring Training and figure it out, but I like Ohman's track record. He's done it. It's a plus for us if it works out."

Ohlendorf trying to build off strong second half: Ross Ohlendorf wants to build on a strong second half of 2009, in which he posted a 2.83 ERA.

"If I continue to pitch like I did in the second half for a full season, then this year will be a big improvement over last year," Ohlendorf told MLB.com. "I'm excited about this coming year based on how I felt like I was pitching at the end of the year."

Jones lands with hometown Marlins: Hunter Jones, a native of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., made it to the Majors despite having an eight-inch rod inserted in his arm. He made the big leagues with the Red Sox last year and now joins the Marlins after being acquired in the Jeremy Hermida deal.

"I couldn't have been happier," Jones told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "Boston was a great organization, and I feel like the Marlins are as well. ... Last year I was thinking to myself before I got up there, when I get to the big leagues, I'm going to be as confident as possible. It's very hard to do. This year, I feel like I've had an offseason to let it set in, and now I'm going to feel more comfortable."

Gross gives A's outfield a boost: The A's bolstered their outfield by signing Gabe Gross to a one-year deal. Gross has experience playing all three outfield positions.

"At this point, I'm coming in as a reserve outfielder, and I feel like I can back up all three spots, but if the opportunity is there for everyday at-bats, I feel I can be successful there, as well," Gross told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Kotchman brings defensive strength to first base: The Mariners are turning to Casey Kotchman at first base thanks to his defensive prowess.

"I think it's one of those things where fans are going to need to see it every day," Mariners special assistant Tony Blengino told the Seattle Times of the impact of Kotchman's defense. "They're going to need to see it to appreciate it. With him covering a little more ground, it will help Lopey [Jose Lopez] as well. Defense, to me, is a team concept. If you put good defenders next to good defenders, all of a sudden you can put a nice wall out there."

Izturis signs three-year deal with Angels: Maicer Izturis signed a three-year deal with the Angels after a season in which he set career highs in nearly every offensive category.

"He's never had the security of a guaranteed contract, much less a multi-year guaranteed contract," agent Peter Greenberg told the Los Angeles Times . "He's very happy."

Webb makes return to mound after surgery: Brandon Webb threw his first bullpen session from a mound this week. It was the first time he's done so since shoulder surgery in August.

"I felt good this morning," Webb told the Arizona Republic. "I'm right where I expected to be. Having not been on the mound in a year, I am pleased with how I felt."

Webb threw between 20-25 pitches and is scheduled to throw off the mound again by early next week before heading to Tucson for the start of the Spring Training.

Murphy getting tips at first from Hernandez: Daniel Murphy is receiving fielding tips from former Mets first baseman and 11-time Gold Glove-winner Keith Hernandez. Murphy took lessons from Hernandez for two days in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and will continue to have sessions with Hernandez during Spring Training.

"It's a situation where I have one of the best first basemen of all time," Murphy told the New York Daily News. "It's my job to get as much information out of him as I can."

Hernandez claimed by Red Sox: The Red Sox claimed 23-year-old Gaby Hernandez off waivers from Seattle. General manager Theo Epstein said he was pleased with the reports he has seen on Hernandez, leading to the claim.

"Given his age and the way his arm works and the advanced levels at which he pitched, he has a chance for some upside down the line," Epstein told the Boston Globe.

Hernandez went 10-9 with a 5.23 ERA last year at Triple-A Tacoma. But he pitched better later in the year, as he was undefeated in his final five starts and went 2-0 with a 1.80 during the final week of the season.